Belt hook holder and method of mounting hooks thereon



May 2, 1939. BRAYv 2,156,966

BELT HOOK HOLDER AND METHOD OF MOUNTING HOOKS IHEREON Filed Nov. 16, 1936 Patented May 2, 1939 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE BELT HOOK HOLDER AND METHOD OF MOUNTING HOOKS THEREON ration of Illinois Application November 16, 1936, Serial No. 111,042

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in belt hook holders.

Metal or wire belt hooks, for lacing belts, are commonly mounted on elongated holders of cardboard or other suitable material from which sections with the desired number of hooks may be severed as required. The hooks are closely spaced on the holder, and are intended to be held thereon in parallel upright position for read insertion into a lacing machine. Heretofore, holders of this general type have been subject to various objections and difliculties which are avoided by the present invention.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a new and improved belt hook holder in which the hooks are held more firmly and securely in position so that severing of a section from the holder with the desired number of hooks is facilitated, and the line-up of the hooks at the severed ends is not disturbed. This avoids the necessity, commonly arising, for straightening and adjusting the hooks before insertion into the machine.

Another object resides in the provision of a novel belt hook holder in which the hooks are covered with a protective coating serving to prevent oxidation and providing a lubricant for facilitating insertion of the prongs into the belt ends.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

. In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of one side of the holder and hook assembly.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view illustrating the manner in which the belt hook and holder assembly is covered with the protective coating.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawing and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring more particularly to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the holder is in the form of an elongated strip I which may be made of any suitable material such, for example,

as cardboard or fibre board. The strip is channel-shaped in cross section, and has side Walls 2 adn 3 bent upwardly and somewhat toward each other so that when the holder and the hooks are assembled a generally triangular structure is defined. Mounted on the holder strip l are a plurality of belt hooks 4 in upright position and closely spaced parallel relation. The hooks 4 are bent into a generally trianguar shape, and have inwardly projecting open or spaced prongs 5 on their ends. In assembling the hooks i with the strip l, the prongs 5 are caused to perforate the side walls 2 and 3, thereby forming in each side two parallel rows of longitudinally aligned holes 6. Preferably, the holes 6 of the two rows are arranged in staggered relation.

Also formed in one of the side walls, namely the wall 2, are a plurality of vertical slots l which have a restricted opening to the upper longitudinal edge thereof, and which define intermediate fiexible locking projections 8. The slots 1 conform in number to and are in vertical alignment respectively with the holes 6. In the assembly, the inclined arms of the hooks t lie substantially against the outer sides of the walls 2 and 3, and the prongs 5 project through the holes 6. The projections 8 are flexed outwardly between the arms of the hooks 4 at one side of the latter so that these arms in effect extend through the slots 1.

The projections 8 thus tend to hold the hooks l normally in upright position. In practice, however, the projections 8 are not of sufficient strength to insure retaining the hooks 4 in the desired position for ready and convenient insertion into a belt lacing machine (not shown). On the contrary, the alignment of the hooks 1, particularly at and adjacent the ends of the holder or sections severed therefrom, is frequently turbed. This results in considerable inconvenience and loss of time, both of the machine and the operator.

One of the primary features of the present invention resides in providing for the avoidance of the foregoing difliculty. In the specific form illustrated, this is accomplished by providing an adhesive bond between the hooks 4 and the paper or other material of which the strip 5 is made. The bond may be of any suitable material, and preferably consists of a wax, such as parafiin. After assembly, the hooks 4 and the free marginal portions of the side walls 2 and 3 are immersed or dipped in the molten paraffin. Preferably, the assembly is immersed to below the lower rows of holes 6 as shown in Fig. 4, the paraffin being contained in any suitable receptacle, indicated generally at P.

On congealing after cooling, the parafiin provides a coating, indicated generally by the reference character 9, for the hooks 4 and the side walls 2 and 3 of the strip I. This coating penetrates between the arms of the hooks 4 and the outer sides of the walls 2 and 3, and also fills in the spaces at the sides of the arms, thereby providing a bond which assists the projections 3 in maintaining the hooks 4 in upright position, even at and adjacent the ends of the strip 5. As shown in Fig. 3 the coating 9 closes the restricted openings to the slots 7 and thus tends to hold the projections 8 against separation and displacement relative to the respective hooklegs retained thereby. The paraffin also strenghens the paper or other material of which the walls 2 and 3 are made which is an additional factor in preventing misalignment of the hooks 4.

The hooks l, being covered with an air and moisture impervious coating, are protected against oxidation, and hence remain bright and in good condition for use even though held in stock for a long period of time. Also, the coating 9 acts as a lubricant for the prongs when forcing the latter into the belt ends to be laced or spliced.

It will be evident that I have provided a new and improved holder for belt hooks. Sections, with the desired number of hooks 4, may be severed from the strip and yet the hooks at and adjacent the severed ends will remain in upright position. For a given weight of material, the strip i is much stronger than has been the case heretofore. As a result, the hooks are always available for immediate and convenient use.

The novel method of assembling and treating the strip and hooks may be carried out with readily available equipment and involves only a few simple steps, namely, insertion of the prongs 5 of the hooks through the side walls 2 and 3 of the strip I, bending the projections 8 outwardly into position between the arms of the hooks, then immersing the hooks and side walls in the molten parafiin, and then allowing the parafiin to congeal. As a result, the walls 2 and 3 are strengthened, the projections 8 stifiened to assist in maintaining the hook-retaining position thereof and the hooks l are held against accidental displacement.

l claini as my invention: 7

l. A belt lacing hook holder and hook assembly comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of flexible material having longitudinally folded side walls, a plurality of closely spaced parallel upright hooks having prongs projecting inwardly through said walls, a plurality of projections on the free longitudinal edge of one of said walls extending between the arms of said hooks, and a coating of parafiin covering said hooks and the adjacent portions of said walls.

2. A belt lacking hook holder and hook assembly comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of flexible material having longitudinally folded side walls, a plurality of closely spaced parallel upright hooks having prongs projecting inwardly through said walls, a plurality of projections on the free longitudinal edge of one of said walls to extend between the arms of said hooks, and a coating of an air impervious material on said hooks and adjacent to said proje"- tions.

3. A belt lacing hook holder and hook assembly comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of flexible material having longitudinally folded side walls, a plurality of closely spaced parallel upright hooks having prongs projecting inwardly through said walls, and a coating of a stiffening material covering said hooks and adjacent portions of said walls to reinforce said walls and provide a bond between said hooks and walls.

4. A belt lacking hook holder and hook assembly comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of flexible material having longitudinally folded side walls, a plurality of closely spaced parallel upright hooks having prongs projecting inwardly through said walls, and a coating of paraffin covering said hooks entirely and the adjacent portions of said walls.

5. The method of assembling a plurality of hooks with end prongs on an elongated holder strip having side walls and a plurality of projections on and along the free edge of one of said walls, inserting said prongs through said side walls, then bending said projections outwardly into position between the arms of said hooks, then immersing said hooks and side walls in molten parafiin, and then allowing said parafiin to congeal.

6. The method of assembling a plurality of hooks with end prongs on an elongated holder strip having side walls, inserting said prongs through said side walls, then immersing said hooks and side walls in a molten reinforcing and bonding material, and then allowing said material to congeal, whereby said walls are strengthened and said hooks are held thereto in upright position.

'7. In combination in a belt lacing hook holder and hook assembly, an elongated holder strip having side walls, a plurality of closely spaced parallel hooks having arms extending along said side walls and prongs projecting inwardly through said walls, and an adhesive material providing a bond between said arms and said side walls to assist in holding the hooks in fixed position on the strip.

8. A belt lacing hock holder assembly, comprising, in combination an elongated strip of flexible material having longitudinally folded side walls, a plurality of closely spaced parallel hooks having prongs projecting inwardly through said walls, a plurality of projections on the free longitudinal edge of one of said walls extending between the arms of said hooks to hold the latter in parallel relation, and a coating of stiffening material which is applicable in liquid form after the hooks have been assembled with the strip covering said projections to reduce the flexibility thereof and assist in holding the same in hook-retaining position, said coating material closing the intervening spaces between said projections.

ALBRIGHT BRAY. 

